St. Louis ownership group and stadium plan forms as they chase MLS expansion team
Ever since MLS announced that they would expand to 28 teams, the league has made it clear that they see a future for St. Louis. That future may be close to becoming a reality after a group of potential local businessmen came together to establish an ownership group that will pursue an MLS expansion team with a stadium site already in mind.
The ownership group is called SC STL and is led by Paul Edgerley, a former Bain Capital executive. Several other major corporation CEOs and executives are also part of the group, as well as Jim Kavanaugh, who owns St. Louis' USL team.
The group's plan is to build a $200 million stadium in downtown St. Louis, roughly a mile from the Gateway Arch. It will seat 20,000 fans, but could be expanded beyond 28,000. The group already holds an option to buy that plot of land.
In addition to the stadium, SC STL plans to take over the city's USL team, bring a local youth club into the fold and turn World Wide Technology Soccer Park into the club's base. They say they will fund much of the stadium's construction and the MLS expansion fee.
There is still more work to be done. SC STL is working with local officials on development around the stadium and infrastructure. Whatever they agree to will be put to a public vote in April.
In addition to that, St. Louis still needs to get the go ahead from MLS. The league has spoken glowingly of the market and SC STL takes over from the exploratory group that met with MLS eight months ago so they are not new to the process. Commissioner Don Garber will visit the city in December too, so things appear to be looking up for St. Louis.
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